A Lot of Flavor

Early on in my casa-design phase, I received by email this delightful proposal:

Hi,  That such Mrs. Candice, as are you, look at, I write because his data they passed me some people that know that you bought a land in San Francisco Nayarit, and I am putting me to his orders in questions of construction, I have a build company, and wanted to talk with you on my services, I send him data of the same one:

A lot of flavor, and I expect its answer

Ing. (signature deleted)

Now, I did not hire this particular builder, and although his proposal was strangely translated (to put it mildly), after a good bout of hilarity I also found it strangely...inspiring.

I really liked that part about “a lot of flavor”. I like things with a lot of flavor, don’t you? Good Cesar salads with anchovies, chocolate ice cream, street tacos with all the salsas. Certain books and gardens. Circuses. Museums, sometimes. Road trips. Houses. 

Shortly after receiving the email, I took a road trip to Guadalajara with El Arquitecto (whom I didchoose as builder). He took me to the lair of Salvage Guy--a warehouse hidden in the middle of a semi-residential neighborhood hidden somewhere in the convoluted streets of that large and motley city. One enters through a patio strewn with pieces of things: cantera stone objects, old windows, hunks of cornice and chunks of fountain, unidentifiable miscellany. I knew right away it was My Kind of Place.

Through the first door is a home strewn with other kinds of objects. More furniture than should naturally fit, paintings and crucifixes and doodads covering walls, low-slung dogs and small sticky children running amok. Down a hall past rooms like wrecked galleons is the door to the warehouse. Carefully down the wood steps, as they too are strewn, and here we are:

 

  

Ha! Is that flavorful, or what? Needless to say, I lost my mind immediately. Over the course of several more visits to Salvage Guy, I purchased several dozen old doors and objects de junque to add to--even to determine--the flavor of Casa Luz de Luna. I bought a thirteen foot high rusted lamppost. I bought a weathered owl of cantera. I bought...I can't remember what I bought, but I'll find out when it all gets delivered. I sent this photo in an email to my friend Travis with the note:

'I bought the thing on the right for me and the thing on the left for you'.

 

I didn't really buy the skeleton, although I might one day. I did buy the thing on the right which will be a table on the terrace. 

Every door in the interior of the casa will be different, mostly because I couldn't decide so I just kept saying "Okay." They are totally impractical and will have to be sealed and fitted and hardwared, but they are old and tasty. Here are a few:

 

Here is a peek at the front doors to the house: 

They are three meters high. That would be ten feet. They will go up to the ceiling and I will look like an elf when I open them to you.

But y' know, they are 200 years old and came from a convent and...how could I resist?

Wishing you A Lot of Flavor today and always.

Comments

[Jeanne]

Hola Candice!
I just read about your blog and have started reading. Great blog! I love your descriptive accounts of what you are doing and the beautiful photos. Your new doors are absolutely gorgeous!

Jeanne

[Sandy Moon]

What an adventure! You are truly amazing! How satisfying it must be to be creating something from the dirt up. I look forward to reading your new installments. Love to you, Sandy

[Candice]

Buenos dias from Guadalajara! This morning I'm going back to Salvage Guy's...then over the next few days will be shopping for tiles and sinks, speaker wire and stove burners. Wanted to thank you so much for the comments! You can imagine how much fun it is for me to hear from you. Keep them coming--I love reading them.
Hasta pronto -- C

[KoKo]

Candice, Goddess of Magnificence!
Your blog, your story, your pictures, your vision, your home-in-the-making are all MAGNIFICENT! No surprise! Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I look forward to the updates and am pleased to be included. Wherever this finds you, be safe, dry, healthy and happy. Love to the family!
Koko

[Nicole]

I love it! I love all the doors, especially, and the fact that they are all different. And I look forward to practicing my Spanish when I get to come visit. Buena suerte mi amiga!